Certificatation

 Universal- A ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over and these films should be set within a positive moral framework and should not contain any real violence, threat or horror. For example, Nemo.






Parental guidance- Can be accessed and watched by all ages however some PG films may contain certain violent and potentially dangerous content to young children and therefore the parent's confirmation is required to verify that the child is able to watch the film. For example Forrest Gump

 

 

 

12A- Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for children and therefore they should not watch them. Cinemas in the UK and Ireland are only permitted to let children under the age of 12 watch the film as long as an adult is present and has bought the ticket. These types of films usually contain mature themes, soft drugs, discrimination, strong language, violent actions and sexual references. For example Cheaper by the Dozen.

12- These types of films should not be viewed by anybody under the age of 12 and it is illegal to either sell cinema tickets or sell 12 rated DVDs to a child under the age of 12. These films commonly contain the same sort of content as the 12A category however on a slightly more extreme scale. For example, Jaws

 

 

15- These films are only suitable for people aged 15 and over because it is known that some of the content can be quite disturbing and violent for their minds to process. Films under this category can contain, adult themes, hard drugs, regular use of strong language, strong violence and sex references. For example The Dark Knight Rises.

18- Only suitable for people aged 18 and over, in other words, it is only for the viewing of adults. Films in this category have limitless use of foul language,  hard drugs,  explicit sex references, very strong, violent, sexual violence and sex scenes. For example Saw

 

 

Restricted 18- These films can only legally be sold at licenced sex shops and licenced cinemas, also it is illegal to sell this type of film via mail order. This category of films contain hard-core pornography, strong fetish material, explicit animated images, strong images of injury and scenes of aggressive behaviour.

For my opening film scene the certification will be a 15 because it will contain scenes of strong language and violence. I perhaps could have labelled the film an 18 however I think my content will be less extreme than some of the popular 18 rated films, such as, Saw, the Shining and Predator.